TapeTrack Documentation

Because there is more to tape management than you ever realized

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primer:introduction

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primer:introduction [2020/09/03 23:51] – [TapeTrack Jargon] Scott Cunliffeprimer:introduction [2025/01/21 22:07] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 TapeTrack is computer software designed specifically for the purpose of managing computer backup tapes. TapeTrack is computer software designed specifically for the purpose of managing computer backup tapes.
  
 +===== Why do you need TapeTrack? =====
 +
 +Each enterprise has unique tape infrastructure, and has developed unique tape management processes, but generally speaking, you need TapeTrack because each of the components involved in the tape management process only provide very narrow functionality:
 +
 +  - [[definitions:backup_software|Backup software]] focusses on writing data to tapes and only keeps an inventory of tapes that it knows about.
 +  - [[defintions:robotic_library|Robotic Libraries]] only know about the tapes in their slots, and don't know which tapes are expected to be in the library.
 +  - Tapes that are outside [[defintions:robotic_library|Robotic Libraries]] have no software at all to keep track of them in racking units.
 +  - [[definitions:offsite_vendors|Off-site vendors]] know about the tapes they have (ideally) and sometimes they make mistakes.
 +  - When ejecting tapes, sometimes the library misses tapes, or ejects tapes that aren't part of the batches that are being sent off-site.
 +  - There is no way of tracking unbarcoded tapes before they are used.
 +  - There is no one list of every ever tape owned by the enterprise.
 +  - There is no history of the movements of each tape that includes which [[dictionary:operators|operators]] touched them.
 +  - There is no way to ensure that each robotic library (or [[dictionary:virtual_library|virtual library]]) has enough [[dictionary:scratch_tape|scratch tapes]] to get through the backup workload.
 ===== What is the TapeTrack Workflow ===== ===== What is the TapeTrack Workflow =====
  
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 TapeTrack is designed around the 5 Pillars of Tape Management: TapeTrack is designed around the 5 Pillars of Tape Management:
  
-  - [[primer:asset_management|Asset Management]] (a complete list of every single tape) +  - [[primer:asset_management|Asset Management]]: A complete list of every single tape. 
-  - [[primer:chain_of_custody|Chain-of-Custody]] (where each tape has been and who has touched it) +  - [[primer:chain_of_custody|Chain-of-Custody]]: Where each tape has been and who has touched it. 
-  - [[primer:library_management|Library Management]] (where each tape needs to be) +  - [[primer:library_management|Library Management]]: Where each tape needs to be. 
-  - [[primer:disaster_recovery|Disaster Recovery]] (are all my critical tapes offsite) +  - [[primer:disaster_recovery|Disaster Recovery]]: Are all my critical tapes offsite? 
-  - [[primer:quality_control|Quality Control]] (am I managing my tapes properly)+  - [[primer:quality_control|Quality Control]]: Am I managing my tapes properly?
  
 ===== TapeTrack Jargon ===== ===== TapeTrack Jargon =====
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 | Synchronization   | The process of setting the Target location of a [[object:volume|Volume]] based upon a the value of a field, or combination of fields in an external backup product.                                                                                                                                                                                                    | | Synchronization   | The process of setting the Target location of a [[object:volume|Volume]] based upon a the value of a field, or combination of fields in an external backup product.                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
 | Target Location   | The location that a tape should ultimately/ideally be found in.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | | Target Location   | The location that a tape should ultimately/ideally be found in.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
-|Volume | An individual asset that is tracked within the TapeTrack software, examples include LTO cartridge, CD, DVD, hard drive etc.+|Volume | An individual asset that is tracked within the TapeTrack software, examples include LTO cartridge, CD, DVD, hard drive etc.|
  
 An example sentence using TapeTrack Jargon: An example sentence using TapeTrack Jargon:
primer/introduction.1599177101.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/01/21 22:07 (external edit)